Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
बकारो वामपार्श्वस्तु भकारः स्कंध उच्यते । मकारो हृदयं शंभोर्महादेवस्य योगिनः
bakāro vāmapārśvastu bhakāraḥ skaṃdha ucyate | makāro hṛdayaṃ śaṃbhormahādevasya yoginaḥ
“Ba” menandakan sisi kiri; “bha” dikatakan sebagai bahu; dan “ma” ialah hati Śambhu—Mahādeva, Yogin Agung. Maka suku kata suci itu direnungi sebagai anggota-anggota Tuhan sendiri.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: bakāro vāmapārśvastu bhakāraḥ skaṃdha ucyate | makāro hṛdayaṃ śaṃbhormahādevasya yoginaḥ
FAQs
It teaches mantra-centered contemplation (nyāsa-bhāvanā): the syllables are not merely sounds but are envisioned as Śiva’s living form, drawing the devotee’s mind from scattered thought into one-pointed devotion and yogic absorption in Pati (Śiva).
It supports Saguna-upāsanā by giving a concrete meditative mapping of mantra to Śiva’s limbs. Such visualization complements Liṅga worship: the external Liṅga anchors devotion while the internal mantra-body contemplation establishes Śiva’s presence within the worshipper’s awareness.
A simple practice is mantra-nyāsa while japa: mentally place the relevant syllables on Śiva’s form (or within one’s own body as Śiva’s seat), especially contemplating ‘ma’ as the heart (hṛdaya), then continue japa with steady breath and devotion.